Auto signaling mechanism



Jan. 1, 1929. 1,697,841

E. HINES AUTO S IGNALING MECHANI SM Filed June 17. 1921 gwuwnto'a,

attorney Patented Jan. 1, 1929.

issuer-i ries EDWARD A. iiINEs; or WASHINGTON, ni s'rnror or COLUMBIA, AssIG-Noia 'IO ROBERT A. GUNN, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICTUOF COLUMBIA.

AUTO SIGNALING MECHANISM.

Application filed June 1'2, 1921. Serial'No. 478,354.

This invention relates to a traffic signal designed particularly for use on automobiles or other vehicles.

One major object is to provide avsignal of '5 this nature having a signaling arm movable to simulate themovement of th e human arm preparatory to turning or stopping the vehicle.

Other important objects are to provide a signal which is operablethrough the movement of the steering mechanism and also by the application of the brake of theautomobile to which it is attached; and to provide a means to throw thesaine signaling arm to dif- 15 terent positions by'application of the brake and movement of the steering mechanism.

Subordinate objects and advantages will appear hereinafter from the description of the present preferred embodiment which 20 is illustrated in accompanying drawings,

wherein I Figure l is a side elevation of an automobile equipped with-my improved signal.

Figure 2 is a diagrai-nmatic view illustrating thesignalin plan and in connection with automobile parts with which it is associated.

Figure 3- is rear elevation of the signal with the semaphore or signaling arm in horizontal position to indicate a -turn.

Figure l is a substantially central vertical section through the signal with the semaphore in normal position in full lines; and in signaling position in dotted lines,

Figure 5 is substantially a vertical sectional view through the signaltaken atright angles to Figure l, but with the semaphore in elevation.

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional-view, on an enlarged scale, through the semaphore.

Figure 7 is a detail side elevation of the brake pedal and its connection to the draw cable.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary elevation of the steering wheeland rod illustrating its connection to the draw cable.

Similar reference characters designate corresponding parts through the several figures I of the drawings.

In the drawings, a signal device generally indicated A is mountedat any desired location on the automobile vB or other vehicle. This device has a casing 9 provided with any suitable form of clamp 10 which preferably engages .the marginal frame of the wind shield-11 of the vehicle. By its attachment to 13 forms the wind-shield, it will be in an ettectivesignahng position on either open or closed vehicles.

Said casing 9 comprises an annular rim 1.0 having its ends covered by closure plates 12 and 13 which are preferably screwed thereto by means of flanges 14. The plate a convenient means upon-which a reflectoror mirror 15wmay be mounted in any suitable manner. vided on the plates 12 short shaft 17 upon which a'semaphore or slgnaling arm C is journaled. Semaphore (J-has an arm 18 which extends through an elongated slot 19 provided in the rim 10" to enable the semaphoreto assume the variouspositions suggested in Figure l. EX- terior of the casing, the signaling arm or semaphore is a-hollow body-20. Partitions 21 and 22 are provided in the signaling arm .to form compartments 23' and 24. In the front and rear Walls of body 20, lenses 25 of any suitable construction are 'mounted in any desired manner. In the rear wall of body at compartment 24,-a lens 26- is mounted, while in the front wall of the bodyopposite lens 26, alens-27 is disposed. Lenses are preferably green, :lens 261's preferably red and lens 27 is preferably white. llfithin compartn'ient 28 a suitablelamp 281s disposed while a similar lampgfZS) is positioned in the compartment 24. In order to permit access to the interior of corn-partinentsfl l and 25, body'QO preferably has a section 30 capable of opening from a hinge or pivot 31 and which section is normally closed by means of a latch 32 which overlaps the same and is securely fastened through the adjustment of the nut of a bolt 33 mounted in the body.

Inorder to normally conceal the lens 27, a shutter S'is disposed thereover, pivoted at 35 so as to pose said lens." This'shutter may have a depression at 36 to enter a corresponding recess in the section 30 to normally remain therein through spring action of the shutter, to prevent swinging thereof.

Lamps 28 and 29 are preferably electric bulbs reinovabl-y mounted in sockets 36 and .37 secured in the walls 21 and 22 respectively. The casing A is grounded. to the automobile frame so that the soekets-36- and 37 will be in conducting relation therewith. Said electric bulbs are in conducting rela Sockets 16' are pro-" and 13 to mount. a

be swung to aposition to QX- tion with the sockets at one pole and the other poles thereof at 88 and 39 engage spring conductors 4:0 and 41, respectively. I In arm 18, contacts 42 and 48 are positioned, and suitably insulated from'the arm and from each other. A conductor 4 1 leads from contact 12 into the arm and toconductor 40, while a conductor 4 1 leads from contact 48 to conductor 11. Contacts 15 and lli are suitably mounted in and insulated from the plate 12 and associated therewith are conductors 47 and 18 which lead to the pole of the battery of the automobile which is not grounded, or to parts in circuit there'- with. In order that the circuits to the lamps 28 and 29 may be opened at desirable tunes, switches and 51 may be interposed at any suitable location therein.

In the rear of rim 10 is a sleeve 52, preferably integral with the rim and directly mounting the bracketlO. Through the sleeve 52, an operating or draw cable 53 of suitable flexible construction passes and is fastened at one end to the arm 18 as at 5 L. Suitable guide members 55 through which the cable 58 passes are mounted within the sleeve 52. Cable 53. is directed, for instance, along a side beam 56 ofthe automobile chassis and trained over guide pulleys 57 mounted there from, and then passed transversely of the vehicle and connect d to a spring 58 secured at 60- to any suitable part of the chassis, as at 61. Spring 58 is of the coil expansive type and normally retracted. "The transverse portion of the cable cooperates with the brakepedal or lever of the automobile at 62, being disposed in front of said pedal and intermediate lugs 63 thereon. The steering rod at 63 has an elongated loop (a through which said horizontal portion of the cable also passes. In operation, when the steering rod 63' is turned to the left, cable 53 so that it will swing the signaling arm C from shaft 17 to the horizontal position shown in full lines in Figure 8 and in dotted lines in Figure 4, which is the usual indication that a turn to the left is being made. signaling arm C will'not be moved since the space of the loop'tla will permit such movement of the post 63 without. tensioning the cable 53. If the brake 62 is applied, whether or not the vehicle is turning, cable 58 will be tensioned and move sufiiciently to throw the signal arm C to the vertical position suggested by dotted lines in Figure 4. In the latter instance, movement of the arm 0 causes expansion of spring 58 to give the cable sufficient length. The tension of spring 58, however, is such that the spring will not expand when the steering rod 63 is operated. In darkness, the lamp 28 is to be lighted when arm G reaches a horizontal position and to this end, with switch 4:7 closed, when loop 6 1 tensions the If shaft 63 is turned to the right,

arm C reaches the horizontal position, contacts 12 and 15 Wlll engage to establish the circuit through lamp 28. On the other hand,

when contacts 48 and 16 engage, upon arm C assuming the vertical dotted line position of Figure 4, the circuit will be established through lamp '29.

In the latter position, when the machine is parked, closure: 34- may be swung to the dotted line position of Figure 3 so that the white lens 27 will be displayed at the frontand red lens 26 will be displayed-at the rear of the arm G to serve as a parking lamp.

I claim z- 1. In signaling mechanism, a movable signal, a flexible operating member therefor, means to operate said member to'actuate the signal, a second means to operate said memher to actuate the signal, and a contractile element to permit extension of said member incident to operation of said second means.

2. In signaling mechanism, a movable signal, a flexible operating member therefor, means to operate said member to actuate the signal, a second means to operate said memher to actuate the signal, the second, means moving said member in a, direction difierent from the direction of its actuation by the first means, and a contractile element to permit extension of said member incident to operation of said second means.

In signaling mechanism, a movable signal, a flexible operating member therefor, means to exert a. lateral drawing strain on Said member to actuate the signal, means to exert a drawing strain on said member in a different path from the first means, and a contractile'element to permit extension of said member incident to operation of said second means.

l. In signaling mechanism for a vehicle, a signal, a flexible operating member therefor, means operable to draw a portion of said member laterally through operation of a control element of the vehicle, and means operable to draw a portion of said member in a difierent direction from the first means through operation of another control element of the vehicle, the drawing of sai d member serving to actuate the signal.

5. In signaling mechanism, a pivoted signaling arm, a cable secured at one end thereto, means to secure the other end of the cable at a distance therefrom, an operating member to draw said cable, a second operating member to draw said cable, a spring connected to the cable, and said cable being drawn to a greater degree by the second open, ating meanber' than by the first, and said spring being expanded by operation of the second operating member.

6. In signaling mechanism, a signaling means, a control member therefor, an operating member, and said operating member having means to operate the control member when turned in one direction and independent thereof W posite dlrectlon.

7. In slgnaling me to move hen turned in the op chanism, a signaling 5 means, a cableextending therefrom, an operating member having the cable passes, and gated and having a pa :1 loop through Which said loop being elonrt to engage the cable EDWARD A. HINES. 

